SELF-STUDIES: DEALING WITH BACKLASH (PART 2)
In the last column, I discussed composing self-studies to cover required information for hospital staff. Most of us write the self-study, enter it on the computer, and let the participants go at it. Writing it, reading it, testing on it, complaining about the whole process-it is the mandatory information circle of life. However, with the technology available today, it does not necessarily have to be that way.
How many of you have spent leisure time playing games online? Games that require you to match items (such as gems or icons or you name it), problem-solving games, and even simple ones such as bingo or solitaire can be positively addictive. Amazingly enough, the programming required for most of them is not that complicated. Why not use part of the budget to hire a programmer? Rethink some of the mandatory self-studies into gaming format, with everyone who gets 100% entered into a prize drawing. The computer can track scores and print out entrants for you.
Another approach that is easy to do on a computer is a story format. For instance, write a compelling narrative about a disaster-earthquake, hurricane, or flood, for example-and then ask questions about what should be done to deal with the situation or create a scenario about a hospital fire or an outbreak of a contagious disease; any of these dramatic events lend themselves readily to a story approach. Use the flexibility and power of the computer to expand self-study approaches.
This brings us to commercially prepared self-studies-they are so tempting to just load and forget. However, never has "caveat emptor" been so true: Buyer beware! Purchased self-studies have the huge advantage of being done for you, plus one assumes educational soundness (because people are charging for the program). However, that may be one assumption too many. Some of the problems I have run into with commercial self-studies include:
1. taking way too long to load each screen
2. content too general and unfocused
3. unclear directions
4. content and/or tests very long, containing unnecessary material
5. having no way to save progress, so it must be finished in one sitting
6. being expensive for what you receive
7. cumbersome record keeping
8. being boring!
If the commercial self-study links to the Internet, you have the additional worry of possible attacks on the organization's firewall. You do not necessarily have to completely avoid purchased programs, but be sure you actually go through the entire study just as the participants will, so you can be aware of possible problems and either have the company fix them or cancel the order. The information systems department can be an invaluable asset in decision making, so involve them from the start. This department staff will be the resource you call on to handle program glitches, so having them familiar with the self-study right from the beginning will help get quick fixes for any problems.
Whatever sort of self-studies you use, keep your objectives always in mind, limit the content to the absolute minimum, and have mercy on staff members who have to suffer through the darn things. We may not be able to avoid self-study backlash, but at least we can keep it to a minimum. Good luck, and may all your glitches be little ones.